Multi-site church
Encyclopedia
A multi-site church is one church
that meets at multiple locations. Churches began to use the multi-site church model in the mid 1980s (see Ichthus Christian Fellowship
). Today's approach ranges from transmitting a sermon by satellite to multiple locations, to creating a number of worship opportunities within the same congregation at multiple times and sites.
According to Todd Rhoades of Monday Morning Insight, an October 2005 US multi-site church conference released statistics regarding growth in the number of churches in the United States operating as multi-site:
Through trial and error, churches have found that attempting to broadcast video to campuses during the other portions of the church service, like worship and times of prayer, is largely unsuccessful. Instead, most multi-site churches produce music, worship, and prayer at each satellite campus
to help solidify the sense of community and connection during those times as well as create an environment unique to that of the main campus, while remaining true to the brand and identity of the church.
In 1998, the "video venue" was born. It is widely accepted that North Coast Church
of Vista, California was the first church to hold an additional service using video technology to reproduce the experience of the pastor's message in different areas of their campus. Within twenty-four months over 1,300 attendees were choosing one of the Video Venues instead of the original live service. One year later it was 2,300. By 2005 North Coast was offering 21 worship services in five locations and now hosts a multisite conference to assist other churches. Other churches, including Community Christian Church
of Naperville, Illinois, have also been cited as launching a video venue the same year.
One of the most prominent examples of a church embracing the multi-site approach is Seacoast Church
. In 2002, after several years of growth, the church hit a physical growth barrier with 3,000 attending Sunday services. The church submitted a number of requests to the local authorities requesting permission to expand their campus. The city rejected all requests, frustrating the leadership of the church. Under the careful guidance of Pastor Greg Surratt, Seacoast began experimenting with a satellite campus that produced a unique service at an alternate location, reducing the strain of traffic and staff on the main campus. The new campus was overwhelmingly successful, leading to the launch of other strategically placed campuses throughout the city.
Today, Seacoast operates thirteen campuses throughout South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia and has over 10,000 people attending Sunday services. Seacoast was featured in the Summer 2004 issue of Vision magazine
, the first multi-site church to appear in Vision. (Fellowship Church
became a multi-site church after their feature in Vision.) Mars Hill Church
, developed a multi-site approach due to similar challenges with Seattle, Washington's planning and zoning regulations. Living Hope Church in Vancouver, Washington became the first Church to launch five campuses at once on Easter Sunday in 2006, after studying some of their predecessors.
The modern church has slowly begun to embrace the idea behind multi-site churches. However, not all church leaders agree with what is happening in the multi-site movement. Eddie Gibbs, professor of church growth at Fuller Theological Seminary, stressed some concern over multi-site churches in a September 2005 article in Christianity Today
, arguing that the multi-site church movement "perpetuates the chronic problem that (the Church) have of undiscipled church members" through a lack of relationship between congregants and the teaching pastor.
Still, churches throughout the world are transferring their churches from single campuses with a ceiling of impact to multiple campuses with seemingly unlimited capabilities. This has created a brand for many churches, some overnight. Churches like Shirelive Church
, Mars Hill Church
, Celebration Church
, Lifechurch.tv
, Fellowship Church
, Second Baptist Church Houston
, National Community Church
, North Point Community Church
, Calvary Chapel of Ft Lauderdale, The Chapel
, Triumph Church
, Hillsong Church
, Substance Church
, Bon Air Baptist Church
, and Willow Creek Community Church
are continuing to expand their ministry base through the use of multiple campuses. Newark Church of the Nazarene in Newark Ohio was one of the first Nazarene churches to adopt a multi-site model. They currently meet in three locations including a restored 100 year old Firehouse. (www.newarknaz.org)
A new frontier for multi-site churches is to go into cyberspace with an Internet Campus. An Internet Campus typically enhances a live streaming video of a worship service with interactive elements for viewers to chat with each other, respond to polls, and/or submit prayer requests.http://digital.leadnet.org/2007/10/churches-with-a.html
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
that meets at multiple locations. Churches began to use the multi-site church model in the mid 1980s (see Ichthus Christian Fellowship
Ichthus Christian Fellowship
Ichthus Christian Fellowship is a neocharismatic Christian church movement and Apostolic network based in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the British New Church Movement and has links with other BNCM leaders and movements, especially Gerald Coates of Pioneer Network.-History:Ichthus...
). Today's approach ranges from transmitting a sermon by satellite to multiple locations, to creating a number of worship opportunities within the same congregation at multiple times and sites.
According to Todd Rhoades of Monday Morning Insight, an October 2005 US multi-site church conference released statistics regarding growth in the number of churches in the United States operating as multi-site:
- In 1990, there were 10 multi-site churches.
- In 1998, that number had expanded to about 100.
- In late 2005, there were more than 1,500 multi-site churches in the United States.http://mondaymorninginsight.com/index.php/site/comments/multi_site_conference_session_1/
- In mid-2008, there are an estimated 2,000 multi-site churches across the US. Multi-site church pioneer Jim Tomberlin of Multi-Site Solutions predicts that every major city and large community in America will have many multi-campus churches by 2010.
Through trial and error, churches have found that attempting to broadcast video to campuses during the other portions of the church service, like worship and times of prayer, is largely unsuccessful. Instead, most multi-site churches produce music, worship, and prayer at each satellite campus
Satellite campus
A satellite campus or branch campus is a campus of a college or university that is physically detached from the main university or college area, and is often smaller than the main campus of an institution....
to help solidify the sense of community and connection during those times as well as create an environment unique to that of the main campus, while remaining true to the brand and identity of the church.
In 1998, the "video venue" was born. It is widely accepted that North Coast Church
North Coast Church
is currently the largest church in the Evangelical Free Church of America with over 8,000 in weekend attendance. The main campus is located in Vista, California, roughly north of San Diego...
of Vista, California was the first church to hold an additional service using video technology to reproduce the experience of the pastor's message in different areas of their campus. Within twenty-four months over 1,300 attendees were choosing one of the Video Venues instead of the original live service. One year later it was 2,300. By 2005 North Coast was offering 21 worship services in five locations and now hosts a multisite conference to assist other churches. Other churches, including Community Christian Church
Community Christian Church
Community Christian Church is a Christian multi-site megachurch, with headquarters in Naperville, Illinois. As of March 2010, the church conducts services at 11 different locations in Chicago area, mostly in the far west suburbs....
of Naperville, Illinois, have also been cited as launching a video venue the same year.
One of the most prominent examples of a church embracing the multi-site approach is Seacoast Church
Seacoast Church
Seacoast is a large American interdenominational church located in the suburb of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, near Charleston, South Carolina, USA. It was founded in February, 1988 by Greg Surratt and a team from another large church in the area, Northwood Assembly in North Charleston. Surratt...
. In 2002, after several years of growth, the church hit a physical growth barrier with 3,000 attending Sunday services. The church submitted a number of requests to the local authorities requesting permission to expand their campus. The city rejected all requests, frustrating the leadership of the church. Under the careful guidance of Pastor Greg Surratt, Seacoast began experimenting with a satellite campus that produced a unique service at an alternate location, reducing the strain of traffic and staff on the main campus. The new campus was overwhelmingly successful, leading to the launch of other strategically placed campuses throughout the city.
Today, Seacoast operates thirteen campuses throughout South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia and has over 10,000 people attending Sunday services. Seacoast was featured in the Summer 2004 issue of Vision magazine
Vision Magazine
Vision Magazine is the official independent student publication of the University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture. It is the longest-running publication for architecture, design, and the arts in the Philippines and the first collegiate journal for architecture in the country...
, the first multi-site church to appear in Vision. (Fellowship Church
Fellowship Church
Fellowship Church is an evangelical Christian megachurch located in Grapevine, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth, that is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. FC is one of the largest and fastest-growing churches in the United States, with an estimated attendance exceeding 20,000...
became a multi-site church after their feature in Vision.) Mars Hill Church
Mars Hill Church
Mars Hill Church is a Reformed Christian megachurch located in Seattle, Washington. Services are offered at multiple locations in the city; the church podcasts content of weekend services, as well as conferences on the Internet with more than 100,000 downloads every week...
, developed a multi-site approach due to similar challenges with Seattle, Washington's planning and zoning regulations. Living Hope Church in Vancouver, Washington became the first Church to launch five campuses at once on Easter Sunday in 2006, after studying some of their predecessors.
The modern church has slowly begun to embrace the idea behind multi-site churches. However, not all church leaders agree with what is happening in the multi-site movement. Eddie Gibbs, professor of church growth at Fuller Theological Seminary, stressed some concern over multi-site churches in a September 2005 article in Christianity Today
Christianity Today
Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. It is the flagship publication of its parent company Christianity Today International, claiming circulation figures of 140,000 and readership of 290,000...
, arguing that the multi-site church movement "perpetuates the chronic problem that (the Church) have of undiscipled church members" through a lack of relationship between congregants and the teaching pastor.
Still, churches throughout the world are transferring their churches from single campuses with a ceiling of impact to multiple campuses with seemingly unlimited capabilities. This has created a brand for many churches, some overnight. Churches like Shirelive Church
Shirelive Church
Shirelive Church is a Pentecostal Christian church affiliated with Australian Christian Churches, the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God denomination. The church's main campus is located in the commercial district of Sutherland, a Southern suburb of Sydney, Australia, in the local...
, Mars Hill Church
Mars Hill Church
Mars Hill Church is a Reformed Christian megachurch located in Seattle, Washington. Services are offered at multiple locations in the city; the church podcasts content of weekend services, as well as conferences on the Internet with more than 100,000 downloads every week...
, Celebration Church
Celebration Church
Celebration Church is a global, diverse, multi-site megachurch that reaches people from all walks of life. Founded by , now the lead pastor of the Jacksonville campus, Celebration began in 1998 and now has nearly 12,000 in attendance weekly...
, Lifechurch.tv
LifeChurch.tv
LifeChurch.tv is an American evangelical multi-site church with multiple locations in five states. Craig Groeschel is the founder and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv....
, Fellowship Church
Fellowship Church
Fellowship Church is an evangelical Christian megachurch located in Grapevine, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth, that is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. FC is one of the largest and fastest-growing churches in the United States, with an estimated attendance exceeding 20,000...
, Second Baptist Church Houston
Second Baptist Church Houston
Second Baptist Church Houston is a megachurch in Houston, Texas, USA affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention that has a membership of over 53,000. Its senior pastor is Dr...
, National Community Church
National Community Church
National Community Church is a multi-site church located in the Washington, D.C. area, pastored by Mark Batterson. The vision of the church is to meet in movie theaters at metro stops all across the Washington DC area...
, North Point Community Church
North Point Community Church
North Point Community Church is a non-denominational, evangelical Christian megachurch located in Alpharetta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. North Point currently averages more than 24,000 people in attendance between its 5 campuses each week, making it the largest church in Metro Atlanta and the...
, Calvary Chapel of Ft Lauderdale, The Chapel
The Chapel
The Chapel may refer to:*One of these non-denominational churches:**The one located in Akron and Green, Ohio.**The Chapel located in Chicago.**The Chapel located in Fort Wayne, Indiana.*A recording studio in Lincolnshire, England....
, Triumph Church
Triumph Church
Triumph Church is a Christian multi-site church located in Detroit, Michigan, USA. It was founded in the Fall of 1920 by Reverend Claude Cummings as the Triumph Missionary Baptist Church. Reverend Solomon W. Kinloch, Jr. is currently the Senior Pastor...
, Hillsong Church
Hillsong Church
Hillsong Church is a Pentecostal megachurch affiliated with Australian Christian Churches and located in Sydney, Australia. The church's senior pastors, Brian and Bobbie Houston, began the church in 1983 as the Hills Christian Life Centre in Baulkham Hills...
, Substance Church
Substance Church
Substance Church is a nondenominational, Evangelical Christian, megachurch in Minneapolis – Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 2010, Outreach Magazine ranked the church as the 21st fastest growing congregation in the United States...
, Bon Air Baptist Church
Bon Air Baptist Church
Bon Air Baptist Church is located in the National Historical District of Bon Air, Virginia. The church was started by Woodland Heights Baptist Church as a gathering place for those who escaped the dirty air of Richmond's industrial downtown seeking the fresh air of the summer resort...
, and Willow Creek Community Church
Willow Creek Community Church
Willow Creek Community Church is a non-denominational, multi-generational Evangelical Christian megachurch located in the Chicago suburb of South Barrington, Illinois. It was founded on October 12, 1975 by Bill Hybels, who is currently the senior pastor...
are continuing to expand their ministry base through the use of multiple campuses. Newark Church of the Nazarene in Newark Ohio was one of the first Nazarene churches to adopt a multi-site model. They currently meet in three locations including a restored 100 year old Firehouse. (www.newarknaz.org)
A new frontier for multi-site churches is to go into cyberspace with an Internet Campus. An Internet Campus typically enhances a live streaming video of a worship service with interactive elements for viewers to chat with each other, respond to polls, and/or submit prayer requests.http://digital.leadnet.org/2007/10/churches-with-a.html
See also
- MegachurchMegachurchA megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
- Satellite campusSatellite campusA satellite campus or branch campus is a campus of a college or university that is physically detached from the main university or college area, and is often smaller than the main campus of an institution....
- List of the largest Protestant churches in the USA
News articles
- "High-Tech Circuit Riders" Christianity Today, September 2005
- "Satellite link between churches could spread Gospel faster" Shreveport Times, August 9, 2005
- "Big Churches Use Technology to Branch Out" National Public Radio: All Things ConsideredAll Things ConsideredAll Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
, August 7, 2005 - "It worked for burgers, now churches try franchising." dailyitem.com, February 6, 2005
- "Mega-Ministers" Christianity Today, June 15, 2001
- "Mega,Schmega: The Boom in Multiple Venues" REV! Magazine, Mar/April 2008
- "Should My Church Go Multi-Site?" Group Publishing May 2008
- "The Multi-Site Church Phenomenon" Willow Creek Association, Spring 2008
External links
- The Multisite Church (article)
- Leadership Network Sponsored Multi-site conference
- Multi-site Forum
- The Multi-site Church Revolution
- List of Churches with Internet Campuses
- NewThing Network
- MultiSite Conference sponosred by North Coast Church
- Dave Ferguson blog
- Third Quarter Consulting Multi-Site Church Consulting